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SportsTranscript
00:00Okay, fellas, if I call, great, take one step back, don't throw punches down the back of the head, protect yourselves at all times, touch gloves, hello lads.
00:30You're all from Essex. Joe Cooper. Heard some good things, Richie. I know he was gently led into the pro game in Belfast in the summer, but there's a lot more apparently that Joe Gallagher thinks he can get out of this kid than he showed on that occasion. And my first observation, he must be one of the very youngest pros in the game in Britain right now.
00:51Absolutely. So a big future ahead of him. Only lots of skills. So be interesting to see how he goes here against a fairly awkward and tough opponent. Barabash, you know, a tough Polish boxer, he's only been stopped once in the 13 defeats that he's had. So he's a bit of a tough cookie. So this will be a test for the young Cooper, who, as you said, Paul, very young indeed, and the whole of his career in front of him. So yeah, let's have a look at how he goes here.
01:21Four rounds it went against the Colombian John Henry Mosquera on his professional debut.
01:31Fairly big show, isn't it, Rich, to be coming into fight number two. That can work both ways, of course. It can give a young fighter the thrill, the smell of it, if you like, for the future.
01:43Very much so. And Paul here, just Barabash, the way he's coming in, probably needs a right uppercut in this contest. A young Joe Cooper here, but he's working well now. You see, Barabash is fairly dangerous when he gets up close. He whips those right hands over the top. So Cooper's just got to watch out for that because he's got a fairly low lead hand. Working well with his jab there. But like I say, maybe the right uppercuts need to see. There's the right hand from Barabash. He whips it over the top.
02:10Barabash most certainly knows his way around. Only actually had 17 pro fights before tonight, but he is 35 years of age. I understand he didn't turn pro until he was in his 30s, but he's been packing them in since.
02:23The man from Poland, and he didn't need sat-nav to get him back to Merseyside because he fought in Heighton.
02:29Elsewhere in this locality, in the summer, John Henehan, that went six rounds.
02:38Nice little feint there with that front foot from Cooper. That's what he's got to do here. Keep those punches nice and straight and keep the distance between himself and Barabash.
02:50And if Barabash does come over that front foot and just closes that gap a little bit, that's when he's got to bring the right uppercut into play.
02:57But better boxing there. He's trying to find his range, you see, behind that jab, is Cooper.
03:01Certainly he made to work every minute of this first round, so far, has Joe Cooper, the showstopper on his tracks.
03:15We've got the showman, Henry Turner, later on the show tonight against Jack Rafferty. What could be a ferocious British and Commonwealth title fight, one of the supporting contests.
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03:54Welcome back, everybody. We're setting in for a great night of action here on TNT Sports from the MNS Arena, right on the banks of the Great River Mersey, previously known as the Liverpool Echo Arena.
04:17And among the many big names in the house, Tyson Fury. He's got a family connection elsewhere on the card tonight. He's looking pretty sleek, Richie, isn't he?
04:26Yeah, indeed, and obviously we're all looking forward to that return with Alexander Usyk in December, and I'm sure he's preparing for that.
04:35So our opener for the evening in the yellow and red trunks, Joe Cooper from Essex. He's a Joe Gallagher stable mate at this moment.
04:45Lukasz Barabasz is there to give him rounds and maybe a little bit of a test tonight from Poland at middleweight.
04:52Barabasz has won four in his 17 pro fights before this one.
05:02And the key really, seems to me, Richie, with Barabasz, if he's on weight, his mind is right, and he'll go and give whoever he's fighting a good test.
05:10There have been one or two nights when he's been way above his best weight.
05:13Yeah, most definitely. You know, he's fairly dangerous. See, there's that right hand again there. So it's really important that Cooper doesn't take things for granted here.
05:21Keeps the punches nice and straight and keeps that, maintains that gap between himself and Barabasz.
05:26Barabasz, on the other hand, he's got to keep moving that head and what he's got to do is get up close and whip the shots over the top.
05:34And he's been successful with a couple of them, and that's why it's important for Cooper with the movement and keeping the punches straight.
05:41And as I say, as a last resort, that right uppercut of his, I think, would pay dividends also.
05:49Some really good work in flashes. He's actually been quite tested in another sense early on, has Jan Cooper.
05:56Much more so than on the opening night in Belfast, because he has taken a few here, Richie.
06:01Yeah, exactly. So it's a real good test for him in Barabasz. He's strong, he's tough, he's awkward.
06:09Throws punches from different angles and whips them over the top. See, there's another one there, isn't too far away.
06:15So it's a good learning fight against a tough opponent.
06:19Cooper's a cousin of Billy Joe Saunders. Another bloodline, much like the Furies.
06:26Don't be fighting these, mate. You fight your fight.
06:29And if he retains a few of the skills of Billy Joe Saunders, he'll be OK, because an exceptional boxer, Billy Joe, in terms of his defence.
06:37Surely one of the most talented fighters over the last 20 years in Britain, Richie, I would think.
06:42Definitely. A talented man, indeed.
06:44Barabasz just lets the pace drop, really, for the first time. 30 seconds left in this second round.
06:56And that's all the invitation Cooper needs to show a little bit of Saunders-like class.
07:01Yeah, absolutely. It was a lovely shot there from Cooper.
07:05Barabasz just pausing a little and probably slowing his feet down and just allowing Cooper just to maintain that gap.
07:12Another uppercut went in there, you see, from Cooper.
07:15So now he's starting to find his range a lot better, because the feet have slowed from Barabasz.
07:20That's actually suiting Cooper.
07:30You never forget your first.
07:34Then one becomes two.
07:37And two becomes something else entirely.
07:41There's the one that gets you noticed.
07:44And the one that got away.
07:47It's only a matter of time.
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07:59To the right, to the right.
08:01Left hand, close, narrow-gauge.
08:28Indeed, Richie.
08:39Steve Gray just steps in for a moment.
08:41Cooper started to take control quite impressively, actually, in that second round.
08:45Yeah, it's just about concentration, Paul, as well.
08:49If there's a lapse in concentration, you just allow the opponent to get a little bit closer.
08:52That's when you can walk on to a shot.
08:54But while he's using that jab, speed and accuracy.
08:59And he's just keeping Barabasz at bay.
09:01It's more difficult than Barabasz to close that gap down, because he's got to get past that shot.
09:07But it's all about concentration.
09:09Because in professional boxing, Paul, against this type of opponent, you can come unstuck.
09:14You can get complacent.
09:16It can become too easy at times.
09:19And this type of opponent then can just whip one over.
09:21They're tough, they're strong.
09:23And see, there's that uppercut that we spoke about.
09:25Yeah, stops him right in his tracks.
09:27And then follows it up with the jab.
09:28Good boxer.
09:40Barabasz stopped only once.
09:44And he went six fairly hard rounds with Sean Noakes,
09:49the brother of the triple champion at Lightweight, Sam Noakes.
09:52Sean Noakes, that was a fight at Wembley.
09:55He's now the English champion, Sean.
09:58In September 2023.
10:00And with a performance like that, Richie, he just inks his name, doesn't he?
10:03Into the list of potential phone calls from the promoter.
10:09When a job opportunity's on the line.
10:11Yeah, they know they're going to get a good, nice workout of their opponent, don't they?
10:15When they book him.
10:17Because he's strong and he's tough.
10:18And like I say, he's awkward.
10:20And he lands the odd shot here and there.
10:23So he's always in a contest.
10:24So he's fairly dangerous, isn't he?
10:26Look at that.
10:28For an unorthodox way of throwing a punch there.
10:31Just changed his feet round to a southpaw.
10:33Then whips that left hand over.
10:35So he's fairly dangerous, isn't he?
10:37And competitive.
10:38I think that's the word for it.
10:40He's competitive.
10:43That's what comes with the know-how of a Barabasz, though, Richie, isn't it?
10:46You know, he perhaps felt in that second round.
10:48I'm just letting this kid think he can showboat here.
10:50I won't stand for that tonight.
10:55Probably needs a little bit more head movement.
10:57That's a little bit better from him.
10:59You know, throwing shots like that.
11:02Just hoping to land one.
11:04And like I said, he's fairly awkward, isn't he?
11:07And that's where Kupin doesn't need to be on those ropes.
11:10He needs to get back into that centre ring.
11:19Left side, Joe.
11:27So Joe Cooper.
11:28Pleasing opener from him tonight.
11:30So much excitement later on this card.
11:32It goes deep.
11:33And it's not all about Merseyside by any means tonight.
11:36And a rising star is also part of this tonight.
11:41Jairo Herrera.
11:42He's a Cuban.
11:43He could have become one of their great Olympians, we're told.
11:46But he decided to go pro early.
11:48And he has been blitzing through the early stage of his pro career.
11:52Huge excitement in Liverpool about him arriving.
11:55And also, of course, we mentioned the Fury connection.
11:58And Walter Fury is also going to be featuring on the card a little bit later.
12:07With the family in attendance.
12:09And Dennis Domenes is in the middle as well.
12:12Yes, Dennis McCann's there.
12:16There's another exciting prospect as well.
12:18McCann.
12:27Badovash seeking to close the range right at the start of this fourth and final round.
12:31And Cooper was ready.
12:35Dennis Domenes is in the middle as well.
12:38I think we're going to see an all-out barrage for a minute or so here from Badovash.
12:42Final flurry.
12:44Hasn't really made a mark on Cooper, even if he has found him at times.
12:48No, he hasn't.
12:49Doesn't need to stay on that rope, Richard.
12:51No, he doesn't.
12:52And you see, this is where you might pick up a head clash where you could get cut or anything, Paul.
12:56So, you know, it's risky business when you're allowing your man to close the gap down like that
13:00and just stick his head in your face and on your chest.
13:03Just keep your distance and box sensibly.
13:07But like I said before, Badovash, he comes to compete and he comes to win.
13:12It's a fair play.
13:13He's given a good account of himself again.
13:15And now the tempo does drop.
13:17Didn't quite get the full minute.
13:21Cooper reasserts from the outside.
13:24Very fetching colour scheme, isn't it?
13:26This yellow and red.
13:27And on the back of his trance, there's a little genuflection, if you like.
13:32And on, the words Champs Camp are emblazoned across the back of his trance.
13:38The old Champs Camp in Mossad in Manchester.
13:42Reopened by Joe Gallagher, of course, who's in the corner.
13:47And if he can buy into any of that tradition, it will really help him very well indeed.
13:50Yeah, I remember the old coach, Phil Morton.
13:53The late Phil Morton.
13:54The late, great Phil Morton.
13:56What a coach he was.
13:57Fantastic.
13:58Well, yeah, the old Champs Camp, Manchester.
14:00Very famous indeed.
14:02Famous colours.
14:06And Joe Cooper now, he's boxing.
14:08He's seen this one out now, but he's come and had a bit of a go, Barabás, in this last round.
14:13So he's made it competitive and it's a good contest now.
14:17Well, you can see flashes of skill from Cooper.
14:19Obviously, with Barabás, it's all industry.
14:23It's work, right?
14:24Coming on to his opponent.
14:25But the flashes of skill from Cooper.
14:27Yeah, excellent.
14:28Just got to maintain a gap against this tough man in front of him.
14:37Barabás with a little word in the air there for Coutinho.
14:44Sometimes in situations like that, the quote's opponent, Richie, will say,
14:47go on, do a bit of this for the last minute.
14:49Make a big finish for everybody.
14:51Yeah, absolutely.
14:52That's because you lot have made a different stuff to the rest of us, Richie.
14:55Yeah, well, I mean, this fellow here, Barabás, fair play to him.
14:58He's given it everything in this last round.
15:01Cooper, I think, is just enjoying it.
15:03He's taking a few risks, but nevertheless, like I say,
15:05flashes and glimpses of the skills that he's got, Cooper.
15:08But this is a good learning fight.
15:10Takes a good shot there from Barabás.
15:13And again, so he's in it right to the end.
15:17Again, he's happy to try to feel the rope on his back
15:19and then smart enough to move away from that potential middle minefield
15:23right at the end of it.
15:24They let a few big ones go right to the bell.
15:27And the crowd certainly enjoyed every moment of that.
15:31But Barabás is going to need a little bit of time to fill his tank again.
15:36He really did put it in.
15:38That was a great last round, wasn't it?
15:39A great last 30 or 40 seconds.
15:42Joe Cooper just stood and traded with his opponent there.
15:44Barabás landed some good punches of his own
15:47and gave it everything in that last round.
15:49So I think it was a real good fight for Joe Cooper.
15:51Only his second contest, a learning contest indeed.
15:54But Barabás coming strong right at the end
15:57and caught Cooper with a couple of good shots.
15:59But Cooper just playing peekaboo here,
16:01keeping that guard nice and high.
16:03Gets caught there with a shot and actually lands one of his own
16:05and knows he landed.
16:07Well, fair play to Barabás.
16:08He really went for it, but it was a crack in the last 30 seconds.
16:11That was a fair test for anybody, an 18-year-old,
16:14in a second professional fight.
16:16Definitely.
16:17Definitely against someone who's 35,
16:19who's had 16, 17 contests.
16:22He's got good experience, only been stopped once.
16:24Yes, it was a good learning fight.
16:26A great workout and he'll have learned a lot from that.
16:41Ladies and gentlemen, after four rounds of boxing,
16:44our referee in charge, Steve Gray,
16:47scores the contest 40-37 for your winner
16:53and still undefeated,
16:56Joe, the Showstopper, Cooper!
17:04A very pleasing second pro outing from this young man.
17:08The road ahead is very long indeed, Laura.
17:11But he looks to be a candidate, potentially.
17:15Let's leave it at that for the moment.
17:17OK, there we go. Good win.